Curve is a theatre in Leicester, England, based in the Cultural quarter in Leicester City Centre. Before being named Curve, it was referred to as Leicester Performing Arts Centre.[1] It is adjacent to the Leicester Athena conference and banqueting centre.

Contents

Curve was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly in association with the scenographers ducks scéno and Charcoal Blue, Kahle Acoustics for acoustican studies and engineered by Adams Kara Taylor is based in the centre of what the City Council calls the new "Cultural Quarter" on Rutland Street. It features two auditoria, one with 902 seats (referred to as the Theatre) while a 350-seat auditorium (referred to as the Studio) provides a smaller space with its own power flying system. The Theatre, Studio and their stages can also be opened up to create one large space with a capacity of 1,300. When the 2 18 tonne steel walls separating the stage and the foyer are lifted, the stage is visible from street level. The glass façade encloses an open plan foyer with views onto the café, bars, backstage area, and across the stage.

The theatre opened on 11 November 2008 with a celebratory opening show called Lift Off.[5] This was followed by Simply Cinderella, which ran from 4 December 2008 (the day it was officially opened by the Queen) until 24 January 2009 – a new musical of the fairytale, written by Grant Olding[6] and Toby Davies,[7] and directed by dancer Adam Cooper.[8]

Curve is run by the Leicester Theatre Trust (LTT), an independent charitable organisation.[3] LTT took over the operation of Curve in August 2008. The Leicester Theatre Trust formed in 1969, it is a regularly funded client of Arts Council England (ACE) and receives annual revenue funding from Leicester City Council.